Week 5 (Feb 10-12)
NEW BILLS THIS WEEK
Data Centers Must Pay
HB403 (Rep. Raferty)
DESCRIPTION: In a nutshell: Data centers must cover their own infrastructure costs so residential customers are not burdened with higher utility rates.
STATUS: View below-under HB399
OUR POSITION: We have moved to neutral on this bill.
Data Center Tax Abatements
HB399 (Rep. Hulsey)
DESCRIPTION: (In a nutshell) Bill will limit tax abatements for data processing centers to a maximum of 20 years starting January 1, 2027. Require certain large data centers to pay state non-educational property taxes and sales and use taxes on building materials, infrastructure, and power systems beginning January 1, 2027. Extend the sunset date for data center abatements. Make technical updates to modernize existing code language.
STATUS: View below-under HB399
OUR POSITION: We have moved to neutral on this bill.
PSC: Replace Elected with Appointed
HB392 (Rep. Brown)
DESCRIPTION: (In a nutshell) Currently there are three elected PSC members. This bill would change future commission members from elected to appointed, beginning after the November 2026 General Election, with appointments made by state leaders and confirmed by the Senate. It also updates commissioner qualifications, expands conflict-of-interest rules to include nonutility entities involved in pending matters, and requires regular public informational meetings with utilities on industry trends.
OUR POSITION: We have not taken a position.
STATUS ON ALL THREE BILLS: On Tuesday, after a public hearing on HB392, it along with HB399, and HB403 passed out of House Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure Committee. All three bills were on Thursday’s original Special Order Calendar (SOC) but right as the day started the SOC was pulled and a new SOC minus these three bills was adopted. We assume they will be added to another SOC in the future.
Public Displays of Ten Commandments
SB99 (Sen. Kelley) HB216 (Rep. Gidley)
DESCRIPTION: This bill would require each local board of education to display the Ten Commandments and a context statement in each history classroom serving students in fifth through twelfth grade and a common area of each school that serves only students in fifth grade or above.
STATUS: Bill passed out of Senate Education Policy Committee and is headed to the House Floor.
OUR POSITION: This is the same bill we supported last year and hope that this year it will pass in both chambers. Read op-ed here.
Civil Accountability for Digital Exploitation
HB347 (Rep. Harrison)
DESCRIPTION: In a nutshell: This bill would allow developers or providers to be held civilly liable in certain cases involving illicit material. It creates a private right of action for individuals depicted in recklessly produced or paid-distributed illicit content, including content generated by publicly accessible nudification apps. The bill also requires websites and apps to provide and post a clear removal process for such material and authorizes the Attorney General to enforce violations.
STATUS: This bill passed out of House Judiciary and is headed to the house floor.
OUR POSITION: We support this bill.
No Weather Manipulation-Chem Trails
HB25 (Rep. Butler)
DESCRIPTION: This bill would prohibit the dispersion of compounds or substances into the atmosphere for the purpose of affecting the weather. This bill would provide a criminal penalty for violations. This bill would create the Alabama Air Pollution Control Fund to be used for reducing air pollution in this state.
STATUS: There was a public hearing House State Government Committee. Afterwards, the members voted for a favorable report, and it’s headed to the house floor.
OUR POSITION: We support this bill
Stop The Woke Agenda
HB169 (Rep. Kiel) SB27 (Sen. Elliott)
DESCRIPTION: In a nutshell: Current law sets the Archives Board at two members per congressional district plus two at-large members. This bill would expand the board to 17 members, change how members are appointed, and apply the changes retroactively.
BACKGROUND: The catalyst for this bill began in July of 2023, when it was discovered that the AL Department of Archives was pushing an inappropriate agenda including revisionist history and LGBT events. (Refresh your memory with the links below.) That led to a push by legislators to defund the department which wasn’t successful. During the 2024 session, Sen. Elliott introduced a bill to amend the appointing procedures to the Dept of Archives Board, but it never made it all the way through the legislature. HB169 is that same bill.
- ‘It’s embarrassing to me that we have to have this conversation’ — State Sen. Elliott defends defunding Department of Archives and History over LGBT event
- State Sen. Elliott: Archives shouldn’t be ‘pushing this woke ideology’ in Alabama – Yellowhammer News
STATUS: Bill passed out of House State Government Committee and is headed to the House floor.
OUR POSITION: We support this bill.
Amend Library Board Appointments
SB26 (Sen. Elliott) Library board
DESCRIPTION: In a nutshell: Bill amends appointing procedures of county and municipal library boards.
STATUS: This bill passed the Senate and is headed to the House.
OUR POSITION: We support this bill.
Previous Bills That Moved This Week
HB67-(Rep. Kiel) Bill lowers voter roll cost from $38,000 to $1,000, however, language bans voter integrity groups/public research organizations from publishing the lists so citizens and volunteers can help verify voters. They are currently allowed to publish voter lists now. Without clear language protecting non-profit organizations, they risk being excluded or having their activities misclassified, which could ultimately prevent them from serving public interest, supporting open elections, and empowering citizens. Eagle Forum has asked for a simple amendment that will alleviate that problem. Pray that it will be offered and passed. Otherwise, the bill needs to die. What good is a cheaper roll if it can’t be verified? STATUS: The bill passed out of Senate County and Municipal Government and is headed to the Senate floor. Watch public hearing beginning at 8:35min mark or read Eagle Forum’s Exec. Director’s testimony. (Bill details in Week 4.)
SB209 (Sen. Shelnutt) Prohibit Comprehensive Sex Education (Graphic/inappropriate curricula) and ensure Sexual Risk Avoidance curriculum is taught. (Bill details in Week 4.)
SB30 Tray’s law ensures victims of sexual abuse are not silenced by nondisclosure agreements and are free to speak about abuse. Bill passed the Senate in Week 2. This week it passed the House and is headed to the Governor’s office. (Bill details in Week 2.)
HB136 (Rep. Pringle) Governor must justify Emergency before Rules-Passed the House headed to the Senate. (Bill details in Week 2.)
